'Secret' church approval angers residents

Related Items

Local Real Estate

Subscribe Now

DOUG Corney is incredulous that a church could be approved next door to his home without him being informed.

Work recently began to convert a Top Camp house into a church after a material change of use application was approved by council in December.

Because the development is code assessable - assessed against state and council planning schemes - there was no requirement to notify the public.

Mr Corney said he found out from a council worker that the property on the New England Hwy and Top Camp Ct would soon become a place of worship.

He said a number of his neighbours were angry that they had not been informed.

"I think that's wrong. I still don't know what religion it is going in - I'm in the dark," Mr Corney said.

"All the neighbours are pretty upset because they've slipped it in without anyone knowing. There's nothing you can do at all.

"I always thought they had to put an ad in The Chronicle.

"It's all one acre blocks out here, and it's all nice and peaceful and quiet."

Council's Development Assessment portfolio leader Cr Chris Tait said the development had had several conditions placed on it by council, including a maximum capacity of 50 people, operating hour restrictions and parking and landscaping requirements.

"In accordance with the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, development applications that are Code Assessable are not required to undertake public notification," Cr Tait said.

"Council's Development Approval was subject to conditions that are required to be satisfied by the operator of the place of worship.

"The decision notice (including all conditions of approval) and the approved plans can be viewed on council's PD Online Service."